Staying patient through tough times paying off for Bellingham softball
When Ashley Kamin learned Bellingham would not field a varsity softball team in 2023, she understood the rationale for the decision.
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Still, buying into the program’s long-term vision required considerable patience.
Kamin was one of three eighth-graders on the Blackhawks’ 2022 varsity team, which had 12 players and finished 5-15. With just one senior and no juniors or sophomores returning for the following season, Bellingham’s coaches and administrators decided to play a junior varsity schedule.
“It was a little bit sad for us, just because we had already been playing on varsity,” said Kamin. “But I think we needed it … We knew it was going to take time.”
After remaining committed through the JV year and winning just 13 games across the next two varsity seasons, Bellingham’s seniors have finally seen the plan come to fruition.
This season, the Blackhawks (11-6, 9-4 Tri-Valley League) have recorded the program’s most wins in seven years and are No. 12 in the latest . The 16-player roster features a blend of experience and younger contributors, and a promising crop of middle schoolers are in the pipeline.
“Taking a break years ago gave us the chance to lay the groundwork, to lay the foundation, and to revive the sport in a town that used to be considered a softball town,” said coach Courtney Parker, a 2009 Bellingham grad. “Through [the seniors’] hard work and success, our younger girls are excited and energized.”
Softball has historically been among Bellingham’s most successful varsity programs; the Blackhawks reached the postseason 17 times during the 25-year coaching tenure of Dennis Baker. In 2014, they went 25-1 and won the Division 2 state title.
But less than a decade later, low participation numbers threatened the program’s viability.
Parker oversaw the JV team in 2023, which featured one senior and 21 freshman and middle schoolers. She was elevated to varsity coach in 2024, and worked to establish a team culture.
In 2024, a quartet of sophomores — Kamin, Jacobi Houston, Hayley Higgins, and Morgan Goyer — were the oldest varsity players. The Blackhawks worked to stay positive through a 5-16 campaign.
“It definitely started from the bottom. The team has been through hell and back,” said Houston. “We’ve grown together, and we’re finally here and our chemistry is way better than it used to be. As we grew, the team grew with us.”
With a stable core over the past three seasons, Parker was optimistic the team could make a dramatic improvement this year. Pitching has been the backbone, with Houston (2.69 ERA, 53 strikeouts) and junior Trista Corshia (3.47 ERA, 46 strikeouts) stifling opponents.
The offense has been led by seniors Kamin (.556 average, 13 RBIs, 17 runs) and Houston (.446, 13, 16), junior Lilly Proler(.415, 15, 12), and sophomore Kaleigh Simpson (.444, 6, 21).
“It’s very heartwarming to see the success we’ve had,” said Higgins. “We’ve kept it alive, and now we can pass that on.”
Parker and the seniors believe spurring participation at the grass-roots level can help prevent a similar situation from arising. Each Saturday and Sunday in March, the varsity players mentored and instructed youth in the Bellingham Girls Softball Association.
“Those younger athletes view our senior class, and even our juniors and sophomores, so highly. They idolize them,” said Parker.
Read more Tuesday’s 11 high school sports takeaways, brought to you by the number 500
In position to host at least one playoff game, Bellingham is hopeful it can make noise in Division 4. But the seniors feel their legacy can be most seen in the program’s future.
“I definitely feel prouder to wear Bellingham across my chest this year,” said Houston. “We all worked so hard, and it’s finally showing. We’re finally getting the reward.”
Extra bases
▪ St. Mary’s (13-4, 9-1) clinched the Catholic Central title Wednesday with a 5-2 win over Cardinal Spellman, the culmination of a strong season powered by a young roster and junior righthander Aliza Crean-Oviedo.
“It was awesome to watch that group just come together at a good time,” said coach Colleen Newbury. “I think we scored all our runs with two outs, against a very good Cardinal Spellman team.”
A youthful lineup consisting of nine underclassmen and one senior, first baseman Cate Morgan, has been explosive. Behind the plate, freshman Milania Igoe and eighth-grader Maya Oliva have anchored a young staff and remained sharp adjusting to different arms.
“Milania started the year with a hand injury from a swing, and Maya took over, and you’d never know the difference. They’ve both become nice friends and work really well behind the plate,” said Newbury.
▪ The pitcher-catcher battery comes naturally for senior twins Alyssa and Caitlyn Collins at Minuteman (13-4), which has surged to the top of the Commonwealth Conference averaging 11 runs per game.
Alyssa, who racked up 17 strikeouts in the Revolution’s 7-3 win over Lynn Classical, has been a driving force.
“Caitlyn is an incredibly consistent, incredibly strong defensive catcher who also hits well. Alyssa is also a good hitter, but Alyssa is the most competitive, driven athlete I’ve ever seen,” said coach John Skogstrom.
Also essential to the lineup has been center fielder Katie Potter, a senior captain who “keeps it real,” per Skogstrom.
“Katie is working with two outfielders who have never played high school outfield before, and she’s really brought them along so nicely. It’s great to see because that’s just the way she is, of course she’s going to mentor them.”
Games to watch
Wednesday, No. 5 King Philip at No. 9 Attleboro, 3:45 p.m.: Both Hockomock contenders enter off narrow losses to top-ranked Taunton.
Wednesday, No. 8 Somerset Berkley at No. 14 New Bedford, 4 p.m.: Somerset Berkley edged New Bedford, 1-0, in the first meeting between these nonleague foes.
Wednesday, No. 16 Georgetown at Gloucester, 4:30 p.m.: Runs tend to come at a premium when these nonleague foes face off. Georgetown claimed a 3-1 win earlier this spring, while Gloucester took last year’s meeting.
Thursday, No. 4 Joseph Case at No. 11 Middleborough, 6:30 p.m.: Case took the last matchup between these nonleague foes, 3-0, but enters after seeing its 14-game win streak snapped.
Correspondent Siera Qosaj contributed to this story.
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